Flag flown over Afghanistan in honor of Animal Hospital goes on display

A new display featuring a special American flag now adorns Cornell University Hospital for Animals’ waiting room. To express thanks for CUHA’s life-saving services, Jessica and Mark Chamberlin gifted the folded flag to CUHA after Mark returned from military duty in Afghanistan, where he had flown it from a Chinook helicopter in honor of CUHA’s doctors, students, and staff.

While serving as a pilot in Afghanistan from October 2010 to October 2011, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Chamberlin received bad news from his wife back home. Lucy, their husky, had been diagnosed with both acute and chronic liver failure. The prognosis looked bleak but Jessica took Lucy to Cornell to see what could be done.

“A biopsy revealed Lucy had hepatitis, extreme liver inflammation,” said Dr. Andrea Johnston, a third-year resident in Hepatology who led the case. “Much of the damage is irreversible and her liver will never function normally, but we were able to get the inflammation under control and develop a nutritional regime specially adapted to her condition. Jessica and Mark worked diligently with the new diet, home-cooking all the food—it’s clear how committed they are to helping Lucy.”

Lucy’s history of hardship began in an abusive dog yard in Alaska. When she got her foot caught in a chain, her former owners cut it off with a chainsaw and left her without medical care. Animal control officers investigating the dog yard found the injured husky and brought her to the animal hospital where Jessica worked as a licensed veterinary technician.

“It took a week to get the infection under control and we had to amputate her leg,” said Jessica. “I spent so much time with her that I got attached and brought her home. She’s been like a child to us ever since.”

The Chamberlin’s parent-like dedication continued through Lucy’s latest ordeal. On the couple’s 10th anniversary, instead of going on the vacation they had originally planned, Jessica and Mark spent their time in Ithaca supporting Lucy during her biopsy and liver care. After Lucy’s initial recovery, they spent time cooking Lucy’s special diet and nursing her back to health.

Their work paid off, and when Mark returned to Afghanistan to lead the flight mission “Operation Enduring Freedom XI,” he flew a flag from the CH-47F “Chinook” helicopter in CUHA’s honor.

“When we first brought Lucy to Cornell we thought she only had a couple weeks,” said Jessica. “Cornell was able to save our girl, and we wanted to do something special to honor the people at the hospital. We are so grateful that Cornell was an option and that all of the doctors and staff were so kind and helpful in getting Lucy back on her feet. We are honored that Cornell has chosen to display the flag in the lobby.”

The flag is proudly displayed in a wooden plaque along with a certificate signed by Mark Chamberlin and the four other officers who flew during the mission under his command. It can be viewed in CUHA’s waiting room to the right of the reception desk window.